Mechanism for controlling railroad-signals.



A. H. RENSHAW.

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING RAILROAD SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.6- 1913.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

arn in ALFRED H. RENSHAW, OF NOROTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING RAILROAD-SIGNALS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED II. RnNsHAw, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Noroton, in the county of Fanfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Controlling Railroad-Sig: nals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises means to operate a railroad signal by means of an electric motor and a train of gears and other necessary accessories. In this type of signal mechanisms the motor is required to lift the signal from the stop or danger position of indication to that of the clear or proceed position of indication, thereby storing up energy by virtue of the counterweight of the semaphore signal sufficient to rotate the gearing and motor in a reverse direction when it is necessary to display the stop or danger indication.

It is the purpose and intent of this invention to so arrange the mechanism that the factor of safety will be increased, and this is especially accomplished by mechanical arrangements whereby the brushes which convey the electricity to the windings of the motor are removed after the semaphore has reached its position corresponding to the proceed indication.

Figure 1, shows the motor and mechanisms and semaphore arm in a position indicating stop or danger. Fig. 2, shows the motor, mechanism and semaphore in a position indicating proceed or clear.

It will be noted that in Fig. 2 the brushes are removed from contact with the commutator of the motor armature.

To make the operation of this mechanism clear, I will now describe the arrangement in detail.

Referring to Fig. 1 The armature of the motor, A, is attached to pinion, 1, which engages spur gear, 2. To spur gear, 2, is attached pinion, 3, which engages with spur gear, 1. Spur gear, 4, drives spindle, 11, to which are attached semaphore arm, 20, and cam plate, C; cam plate, C, is provided with a portion of reduced radius, 5, and of one increased radius, 9.

It will be noticed that battery, B, is so connected that when the switch, S, is closed, current will flow through the motor armature and through the field windings, F, to

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 6, 1913.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Serial No. 793,514.

cause the motor to rotate; such rotation will cause the semaphore arm, 20, to move from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2, this motor circuit being completed through the contact plate, 8, carried on the retaining arm, 12. This retaining arm is pivoted on the stop, 7, and has at one extremity a roller, 6. This roller rides on the top of cam plate, C, and when the depressed portion of the cam plate, C, has been moved to a position adjacent to roller, 6, magnet, M, which is also energized from battery, B, will attract arm, 12, causing roller, 6, to fall into the depression, 5, thus retaining the semaphore arm, 20, in the position shown in Fig. 2. The interruption of the motor circuit by means of the movement imparted to contact plate, 8, will allow the motor to stop rotating. When the arm, 20, has been moved to the position of Fig. 2, the projection, 9, of cam plate, C, will have come in contact with the end of push rod, 10, depressing it downward as shown in Fig. 2. This movement of push rod, 10, will impart a movement to each of the two brushes on the motor armature moving them away from the commutator of the said armature so that they will no longer touch the said commutator. This then will permit of the motor starting to rotate in the reverse direction very easily whenever it should be desired to release the semaphore arm, 20, from the position to shown in Fig. 2. If it be now desired to cause the semaphore arm to assume the stop or danger position, such movement will be effected by opening switch, S. This will interrupt the current flow to magnet, M, which in turn will release the retaining arm, 12, and the counterweight of the semaphore arm, 20, will drive the mechanism and train of gears and motor armature backward, the roller, 6, being free to slide out of the depressed portion, 5, of the cam plate, C. After such motion has begun the brushes will again assume contact with the commutator of the motor by means of the counterweights, 14:, these counterweights being sufficient to overcome the weight of the push rod, 10, and the friction of the pivots upon which the brushes are suspended.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a railway signal, the combination of a signal biased to one position of indication; a mechanism to operate the signal in opposition to its bias; an electric motor to perate said mechanism; a circuit controller operated'by the signal to open the electric circuit to the motor; and means whereby the brushes of the said motor are removed from contact with its commutator When the signal is being moved to a position of indication in opposition to its bias, said means becoming operative subsequent to the opening of the electric circuit at the controller.

2. In a railway signal, a signal arm; motor brushes adapted to be moved to and from contact With the commutator of the motor; a controller to open the circuit to signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED H. RENSHAW. Witnesses:

FREDERICK W. CAMERON, BEULAH CABLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

